The Detroit Lions are on the lookout for defensive playmakers this off-season, and they could land an elite pass rusher with their first pick in April’s NFL draft.

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said in a teleconference today that two top-tier pass rushers could be in the mix for the Lions at No. 5: Georgia’s Jarvis Jones and Texas A&M’s Damontre Moore.

Kiper rates Jones as the draft’s No. 1 prospect and Moore No. 2. He projects Jones to the Lions with the No. 5 pick in his latest mock draft.

“I look at Jarvis Jones as a guy that would be Von Miller-like,” Kiper said. “If you want the defensive end, Damontre Moore played down this year, played up two years ago, so he’s one of those DeMarcus Ware types.”

Jones had 15 sacks as a pass-rushing outside linebacker for Georgia this year but will have to answer medical questions at the NFL combine next month.

He suffered a serious neck injury that forced him to transfer to Georgia after USC doctors wouldn’t clear him to return to football.

Moore, whom Kiper projects to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 2 overall pick, had 13 sacks for Texas A&M this year.

“I think he’s going to be a highly coveted player. I think he could end up being the No. 1 guy on a lot of people’s boards,” Kiper said. “They’re both elite. Jarvis is phenomenal. The big question was going to be the medical. Looks like he’s going to be fine there. So if he’s there at 5, if Damontre Moore is there at 5, I would go that route over (LSU defensive end Barkevious) Mingo.”

Mingo and Florida State defensive Bjoern Werner also project as top-10 picks, and Kiper said he wouldn’t hesitate to take the draft’s best cornerback, Alabama’s Dee Milliner, if he’s there at No. 5.

“I had him going 4 to Philadelphia, one pick prior to the Lions,” Kiper said. “It would have been easy to put Milliner there, 'cause that is, I think, their biggest need.”

Along with Jones and Moore, Kiper said he expects Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel and Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei to be in the mix to go No. 1 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.